Film developing and progressing machine



June 21, 1932. G. M. DYE 1,863,689

1 FILM DEVELOPING AND PROGRESSING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet l a w A June 21, 1932. G. M. DYE 1,863,689

FILM DEVELOPING ANDPROGRESSING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1929 4 sheeiis-sneet 2 II Illllllklllv June 21, 1932. DYE 1,863,689

FILM DEVELOPING AND PROGRESSING MACHINE Filed April 17, 1929 4Sheets-Sheet 5 11a 1/5 5: I I] 7a3sfl G. M. DYE

FILM DEVELOPING AND PROGRESSING MACHINE June 21, 1932.

Filed April 17, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I. Ii-II I. lllllll I||| mwllllllPatented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES] PATENT OFFICE,

- GLEN MLDYE, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA FILM DEVELOPING AND Applicationfiled April 17,

This invention relates to an apparatus'for automatically handlingarticles requiring treatment in various liquids, such as the sensitizedsheets or plates used in photography and particularly to a machine forcarrying the articles, such as films and plates through photographictreating liquids. As is well known to those skilled in the art,thecommon photographic films are now furnished in rolls which are severalfeet in length and these films arecommonly developed while in one pieceof such length. The films are first placed in a container having thedeveloping liquid therein, are then placed in another container havingwhat is called an acid short-stop solution, are then progressed throughtwocontainers containing hypo solution and are then moved through one ormore containers containing water or washing solution.

It is an object of this invention to provide a machine which willautomatically convey the film which is carried on a suitable holder orfilm-carrying member, insert the same into the various containerssuccessively, move the same through the containers at the desired speedand withdraw the film from each container after it has been progressedtherethrough and insert it into the next container, a plurality of "saidholders being acted on simultaneously.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus forsuccessively placing into and removing the film from the containers andadvancing the same from one container to the other comprising a pair ofrails extending along the containers and having means thereon forengaging the film holders, which means are spaced along said rails andcan be held in various positions thereon. I It is another objectof theinvention to providea machine having conveying means for progressing thefilms through a series of containers which, is, as usual, disposed in adark room, said dark room having closing means constituting one wallthereof, together with operating means for relatively movingthe'conveyor means and said closing means j to move the washed film fromthe dark room raoennssme MACHINE 1929; seen No. 355,877.

without admitting light from the exterior thereinto.

It is still another object of the invention to provide a machine which,will move the films through a series of containers and will then deliverthe films to a conveyor after the same have been washed, comprising apair of rails extending along the containers and having meansthereon-for engaging and lifting the film carrying holders, the partsbeing driven from a single driving means and synchronized as to theirmovement.

It is still a further object of the invention to provide such a machineas set forth in the preceding paragraph having means for varying thespeed of travel of the films through the various containers.

These and other more specific objects of the invention will morefullyappear in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views, and in which Fig. 1 isa sideview of the machine, certain portions being broken away and otherportions shown in vertical section;

Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe machine;

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view with some parts being broken away andother arts shown in horizontal section, the same eing shown on anenlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is for the most part a view in end elevation as seen from theright of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view in end elevation ofthe machine, as seen from the leftof Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a vertical section taken on line. 6-6 of Fig. 55, certainportions being broken away, the same being on an enlarged'scale;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on line 77 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 88 of Fig. 3'asindicated by the arrows;

Fig. 9- is a vertical section taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 3 as indicatedby the'arrows, and

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on line lO-,1O of Fig. 1 asindicated by thearrows, gnd Fig. 11 is a section taken on line 11-11 ofReferring to the drawings, a machine is shown comprising a frameincludin vertical standards 10, which in the embo iment of the inventionas illustrated are shown as angle bars having their lower ends receivedin base members 11 secured to the floor or other support. The standards10 are arranged in laterally spaced pairs as clearly shown in Figs. 4and 5 and are connected at their tops by the horizontal bars 12 and thelower channel bars 13. Said frame also in member 15, in the form of athree-sided box is disposed at one end of tank 16 as shown in Fig. 1,having one side extending along said tank and its other sides projectingforwardly at right angles. Within the tank 16 and at one end thereof,being the right hand end, as shown in Fig. 1, is a tank 18 ofconsiderably greater height than the tank 16. Within tank 18 aredisposed a plurality of still higher tanks 19, said tan s beingillustrated as substantially rectangular in cross section and havingflanges 19a at their upper ends which are in contact at the transversesides of the tanks. At one end of the tanks 18 are disposed a pluralityof other tanks 20, the same being shown as two in number and beingdisposed in the tank 16, tanks 20 also being substantially rectangularin horizontal cross section and setting on blocks 20a, the tops of tanks20 being sub stantially at the same height as tanks 19.

Supported by the standards 10'are longitudinally extending side bars 21in the form of channel bars having their channels directed inwardly,said bars being respectively disposed at opposite sides of the machine.

. Vertically disposed plates 22 are provided and below the same.

ported at one extending along and engaging the inner sides of said bars21 and extending slightly above Bars 22a shown as pipes extend betweenand connect plates 22 and form supports for the plate members 221)having downwardly diverging sides extending over the s aces between thevarious tanks 19 and 20. lates 22 and bars 21 are supend of the machine,namely the left end, as seen in Fig.1, by brackets 23 extending inwardlyfrom standards 10 and are supported adjacent the other end of themachine by bolts or bars 24 extending between and spacing the same andprojecting outward to'a pair of the standards 10. At

one end of bars 21 are secured brackets 25,

the same having downwardly extending flanges forming a channel, theinnermost one of which is bolted to the web of the side bar 21. Brackets25 have upwardly projecting arms 25a at the inner sides of which arerecessed flanges 256, said brackets having inwardly extending flanges25c extending around their inner edges. Bars 21 have bolted to the outersides thereof at spaced journaled on studs carried in brackets 25 at theright hand end of the machine and run over sprockets 29 carried on studssecured in bars 21 at the left hand end of the machine. Chains 27 haveconnecting members 27a at the ends of the links and between the sameprojecting above and below the links, thus forming spaces or pockets 27bbetween adjacent members 270.. Chains 27 in the operation of the machineare intermittently moved in'the direction of the arrows shown in Fi 1and 6 by a pawl member 30 having a hoo ed wedge shaped arm 30a ada tedto engage between the members 27 a and aving a downturned end ivoted toabraoket 31 extending downwardly and secured to a channel bar 32.Channel bar .32 is carried at its lower end on a rod 32a pivoted inbrackets 33 secured to one of the end standards 10. Bar 32 extendsupwardly at one side of the machine and. has secured adjacent its topanother bar 34 which diverges therefrom and is connected to the baradjacent its 11 er end by another bar 35. Bar 34.- is PI'OVI ed for apurpose to be later described. Bar 35 will have a plurality of holes 35atherein through any one of which may pass the bolt connecting the sameto bar 32. It will be understood that there is one of each of themembers 30 to 35 at each side of the machine, one member 30 acting onone of the chains 27 and the other acting on the other of the chains 27.A stop pin 34a projects from each of the members '12 into the path ofbar 34 and forms a stop therefor. A pair of rails 36 are provided,which, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated are shown as beingin the form of channel bars'with their channels directed outwardly, saidrails being disposed at either side of the-machine, as clearly shown inFig. 4. Said rails have secured thereto pairs of guiding members 37having outwardly directed flanges which diverge at the top and bottom ofthe bracket and embrace flanges 38a of vertically extending angle bars38 secured at their tops to the frame members 12 and at their bottoms toframe members 13. Said rails 36 move between the vertically extendingangle bars 38 and vertically extending angle bars 39 aling housingawayadjacent their upper ends as shown at 38?; for a purpose which willlater appear.

Cam rollers 36a are carried on studs secured in rails 36 and adapted toengage bar 34. Carrier brackets 36?) are secured in spaced relationalong rails 36 being clamped thereon by the set screws 360, saidbrackets having horizontal and upwardly and rearwardly ex tendingflanges projecting inwardly therefrom. Rails 36 are constructed andarranged tobe moved through an elongated oblong path and for thispurpose are connected to endless chains 40 by means of brackets 41disposed in the channels of rails 36 and connected to a link of saidchain. Chains40 at their lower ends run over sprockets, 42 carried onstud, shafts mounted in brackets 43 secured to certain of the standardmembers 10. Brackets 43 are shown as having 0b-' long slots in theirattaching flanges to receive the securing bolts so that said bracketsmay be vertically adjusted. Chains 40 at their upper ends run oversprockets 44 car'- ried on shafts 45 mounted in bars secured to thestandards 10, said shafts also carrying at the outer side of saidchannels sprockets 46. Endless chains 47 run over the sprockets 46respectively at each side of the machine and also over small sprocketsor pulleys 48 carried on studs mounted in brackets 49 depending from theI frame members 12. Chains ets 50 which are mounted on a shaft 51suitably journaled in a bracket 52 secured to a plate member 53extending across the top of members 12, said bracket constituting a casaworm wheel gear 54 secured to shaft 51'. Collars 55 are secured to shaft51 at either side of bracket 52 and prevent endwise movement thereof.Shaft 51 is journaledat its other end in a bracket (not shown) securedto one of the members 12.

. \Vorm wheel gear 54 meshes with aworm and havin gear 56 also housed inbracket 52 and secured to a shaft 57 projecting from said bracket flan'edpu ley 58. Pulley 58 is driven by a.

belt 59, shown as a round belt, the same runnin-g over a cone or steppedpulley 60 secured to thearmature shaft of a motor 61. Motor 61 issecured to a plate 62 having flanges which-embrace the edges of a guideplate 63 mounted on the side of one of the standards 10. Saidplate 62has secured thereto a flexible member, such as a chain 64 which runsover a grooved sheave 65 mounted on the stud secured to" the standard10, said chain 64 having secured to its other end a counter weight 66which hangs alongside of standard 10. In practice, counter weight 66 hasbeen made about four pounds lighter than the motor 61. Vith the escribedconstruction it is seen that motor 6 hangs on the belt 59.

The machine described is practically all disposed in a dark room, suchascBmmonly room,

47 also run over small driving sprock- '7 6 enclosing said sheave.

secured thereto a rather .wide- V downwardly from sheave 76 and issecured to used in photographic work. The machine faces and is disposedadjacent one wall of the the top portion of which is shown in Fig. 1 as67 extending above the top frame members 12. Said front wall orpartition 67 also extends down between the endstandards 10 as shown inFig. 1. Side panels 68 extend downward from member 67 to a pointadjacent a drain pan 69 below which end wall 67 again extends betweenstandards 10. This leaves a rectangular opening between the top andbottom portions of wall 67 and the side panels 68. A vertically andinwardly extending plate or w. ll 70 extends from the inner end of drainpan 69 to a pair of vertically extending and comparatively small angle,bars 71'. Plate '70 extends substantially to the top of side bars 21 andhas its top extending horizontally for a short distance. A pair of sideplates 72 are provided having, as shown in Fig. 8, their'upper rearportion sloping downwardly and rearwardly. Plates 72 extend downwardlyat either side of plate 70 to the bottom of the machine. Above side bars21 plates 72 have their inner ends 72a turnedinwardly as shown in Fig.3. An other plate 70a of channel shape in horizontal cross section hasits sides extending along rear tank 20 and its central portion extendingacross the rear of rear tank 20, said plate of side bars 21. Avertically movable curtaln or partition 73 moves at its upper portionbetween anglemembers 71 and ends 72a and at itslower portion betweenplate 70a at its rearward side and small uide members 70?) securedtosaid plate. aid curtain has a horizontally extending 7 angle bar 74secured thereto extending outwardly some distance at each side of thecurtain to each end of which is attached a flexible member such as achain 75 which extends upwardly over a sheave 76 mounted, on a studcarried by a plate 77 secured to and extending forwardly from bar- 32. Aplate bracket 78 is secured to plate a. bracket 79 projecting forwardlyfrom a verticallyextending bar 80 movable alongside of a verticallyextending angle bar 81 and having another bracket 82 at its top similarto bracket 79. Brackets 7 9 and 82 and the bar 80 are disposedrespectively at the front and rear of the angle-bar 81 and act I Thebars 80 tend to descend by gravity and pull'on the chains 75 thustending to raise Chain 75 extends the curtain or partition 73, said barsand attached parts being'lieavier than said curtam. Vert1cal bars 81 aresecured to the standards 10 by plates 83 which extend between theinwardly and outwardly directed flanges of bars 81. and forming aconnection shutting out the light. Side plates 84 extend between therear standards 10 and are secured 5 thereto thus shutting out the lightat the sides of the machine. The wall of the dark room in line with sidepanel 68 may extend, as shown at 85, at each side of the rear end of themachine. Plates 86 are disposed respectivem 1y at either side of themachine having their planes extending longitudinally thereof, saidplates having downwardly and forwardly beveled lower ends 86a, theseplates being se cured to vertically extending angles 87 disposed withinthe rails 36. Plates 86 at their inner sides'have small angle members 88secured thereto forming the rear guides for a vertically movable forwardcurtain or-partition 89. Asheet metal plate 90 extends between plates 86in front of curtain 89, the

same extending from top members 12 downwardly to a point some distanceabove side bars 21. Curtain 89 has a flexible member such as a chain 91secured centrally thereof, which chain passes upwardly and laterally topass over a pair of sheaves 92 secured to a plate 93 extending acrossmembers 12. Chain 91 extends downwardly and is secured to one of therails 36.

Adrying rack orconveyor is provided outside of the dark room to whichthe films are transferred and in the embodiment of the in-.ventionillustrated this includes apair of rail members each comprising avertically dis- 5 posed plate 95 at its inner side supported by abracket 96 which projects inwardly from a standard member 10. Plate 95has secured'to its bottom an outwardly extending angle bar 97 and hasalso secured to its top and outer side another angle bar 98. A plate 99extends between the outwardly extending flanges of bars 97 and 98 for aportion of their length thus "forming a closed rectangular housing. Atthe ends of said rails plate 95 has secured thereto oblong castings 100having longitudinally extending slots 1000 through which the securingbolts 101 pass thus providin for adjustment of said castings longitudinay of plate 95. The angles'97 and 98 will extend to a point closelyadjacent castings 100. Endless chains 102 travel respectively on saidrail structures,the upper run of each chain traveling on the horizontalflange of angle bar 98 and the lower run traveling on'the horizontalflange of angle bar 97. Said chains merely slide around the ends ofcastings 100. It will be noted that plates 95 and 99 extend above thehorizontal flange of angle bar 98 so that the upper run of chain 102travels in a trough and is kept from lateral movement. Plates 95 attheir forward ends are disposed closely adjacent plates 72 and arebolted thereto. t will be seen that the rails carrying chains 102movethrough openings cut in the side panels 68. To prevent the entranceof light around these rails the said openings are closed by fabriccurtains 120 made of material such as felt and secured to small brackets=121 bolted to panels 68. The curtains 120 engage the chain 102 so aclosed structure is formed. The chains 102 are intermittently moved by apawl 103 which is disposed between the runs of the chain and engages thelower run, said pawl being pivoted atone end to a bell crank lever 104which in turn is ivoted to a bracket 105 secured to lower ang e97." Achain 106 is secured at the outer end to the long arm of bell cranklever 104 and extends upwardly and over a sheave 107 carried-on astud-secured in one of the top members '12 and over a second sheave 108similarly secured, said chain then passing downwardly and being securedto rail 36. 7

It will be understood that there is one of the bell crank levers 104andchains 106 for each of the chains 102. The rails carrying the chains102 are further supported rearwardly of the rear standards 10 byvertical posts 109 shown as made from pipe, the same having brackets 110secured thereto and extending to and secured to outer plates 99. Theposts 109 extend above chains 102 and support at their upper ends a'pairof angle bars 111. The bars 111 form part of a frame work supporting amotor 112 constructed and arranged to drive a fan 113, said fan beingarranged to direct a blast of air'downwardly.

The films to be handled by'the machine are sup orted on a lm-carryingmember comprising a stick or bar 114 havin .its sides convergingdownwardly to an edge or a short distance adjacent its ends. Said barhas secured thereto adjacent its ends triangular plates 115 havin theirpointed sides directed downwardly. aid bar has secured thereto aplurality of film retainers 116 having portions projecting below bar 114and having film holding clips 117 secured thereto. The ends of the films118 are clam ed and gripped by the clips 117 and depend therefrom. Awater supply pipe 123, shown in Fig. 1, is provided to supply water tothe tanks 19 and 20 and will be connected thereto by suitable couplings124.

In operation, the motor 61 will be driven, thus driving the chains47 and40 through the belt 59 and gears 54 and 56. Rails 36 are thus movedupward with chains 40 and are given rearward movement as the chains 40pass over their upper sprockets. Guide members 37 move upward alongangle bars 38 and pass through the openings 386 when the rails movelongitudinally. As the rails descend the rear guide members 37 arebrought into alignment with the inwardly projecting flanges of anglebars 38 respe'ctively and'move downward thereon. These guide members 37prevent longitudinal vibration of rails 36. The operator places bar 114on the ledge 25b of bracket '25 and connects c When the 0 tween theplates 22 next pair thereby and moved forwardly so that when, there.-

the films 118 to clips 117. A weight 119 is usually clipped onto theother end of the film to cause the film to hang vertically. films havebeen so connected, the perator lifts bar 114 and sets the same down onthechains 27, the bar extending across from one chain to the other andseating between the members 27 a. The bar is guided to position by theplates 115 movin in be- The bar and. lms are now supported by the chains27. After the rails 36 pass through their movement at the top of themachine, rollers'36a engage bars 34 and move the same to the left asshown in Fig. 1, thus swinging bars 32 about their pivots in brackets33. This moves the brackets 31 and pawls 30 and the movement is justsufiicient to move the top runs of chains 27 rearwardly the distance ofone link. Bars 114, therefore, placed on the chains will beintermittently moved rearwardly. When the. bars reach a certain positionthey will be lifted at their ends by the members 36?) at the ends ofrails 36 as the same are carried upward by the upward run of chains 40.The end portions of bars 114 are made of wedge shape at their lowersides so that there will be wider spaces for the upwardly extending vflanges of members 36?) to pass between and so that said bars willeasily seat themselves on members 36?). In Fig. 6 the bar 114 is shownas having been lifted a short distance above the chains 27. Bar 114 iscarried upward on members 36?) and by the rails 36 and the film islifted upabove the cross bars 21 well above the-tanks 19 and 20. As therails come down with the downwardly moving runs of chains 40, the filmis lowered and moves downwardly in the front tank 19 ad 26 are so placedthat as the bar 114 approache es chains 27, its ends engage the rearwardit side'ofsaid members 26 and it slides forwardly some distance, thuscoming to rest on chains 27 some distance ahead of where it I would cometo rest had it not engaged the members 26. This extra rearward movementof the bar 114 and films is provided to furnish plenty of clearance forthe next row of films that is lowered by the rails 36. As abovedescribed, with eachcycle of rails'36 chains 27 are moved rearwardly onelink so that the next bar rest on chains 27 on on which the previous barThe chains 27 are thus progressed thelinks behind those 114 is disposed.

unti

enough bars 114 are disposed thereon to sub.- I g 'd 80 and barsstantiall fill the tank 19 or as many as sai tank willconvenientliynhold. 'When this occurs the bar 114 hol films in the tankcomes into the path ofthe of carriers 36b] and Wlll be lifted said bardescends the film de ndin from will lowered into the orwar end ofjacent'the front end thereof. The members 114 lowered will come to,

and the curtain is allowed to l the rails 36 rise,

gthe most rearward the second tank 19. Chains 27 being moved, the filmswill be progressed step by step through this second tank 19 and whenthey reach the rearmost position thereof they will be lifted by thenext'or, third set of the. carriers 36b and raised from the second tank 19and lowered into the forward part of the third tank 19'. It will beunderstood that each time the films are engages a pair of-the members26. The films are thus progressed through each tank successively andupon reaching the rearward end thereof are lifted and placed in theforward end of the next tank. This operation continues until the filmshave been progressed through the last tank 20. It will be understoodthat after the machine has been in operation some time each one of thecarriers 36?) will lift a film on the upward movement of the rails 36 asis indicated in Fig. 1. The

lowered the bar 114 rearmost film in each'tank will be removed I andplaced in the forward position of the next tank and a fresh film will-belowered in the forward positionin the first tank.

As above described, the rear end of the machine is adjacent the darkroom wall and as clearly shown in Fig. 8, light is shut off from theexterior by said wall. Themeans shuttingofi the light includes the upperplate 85, the rear walls 67, panels 68, plate 70 and the slidingcurtains 7 3 and 89. As the bar 114 is raised from the last tank 20 andmoved up on thenext pair of carriers 36?), said bar engages the lowerbeveled ends of the plates 86 and is cammed rearwardly. The carrier 36?)at the rear is slightly difierent from the other carriers in that it isof greater longitudinal dimension and its rearwardly andupwardlyextending flange is somewhat longer. The bar can thus be movedrearwardly without being moved off of the carrier. In Fig. 6 the bar 114is shown as having passed the lower ends of the plate 86. As the rails36 move downwardly and approach their lower position they pull down onchains 91 and raise the forward curtain or partition 89. This curtain isthus raised, so that its bottom edge is above the top of the films inthe rear tank 20 and the bar 114 can thus move to the rear of saidcurtain and elevate the films without any obstruction from the curtain.As he film is'raisedand rails 36 chain 91 is moved upwardly descend toits lowermost position, as shown in Fig. 8. As carrying the films theyenage the brackets 82 at the top move upwardly,

top of bars 21. As the bar 114 is raised in chains 75 and allowin therear of the forward curtain 89, it can thus move over the top of therear curtain 3. As

of the bars 80 are raised thus slacking the v soon as the 114 thereonwhich has b 1i chains 102.

seen that the forward curtain 89 is down when the rear curtain 73 islowered so that there is always a partition shutting out the light fromthe dark room in which the films are dr being progressed. As the rails36 and the rear end members 36b descend with the bar een removed fromthe rear tank 20, the ends of said bar will engage the downwardlyinclined sides at the rear of plates 72 and said bar will be movedrearwardly so that it will be deposited on the Chains 102 areintermittently moved by pawl 103, which is actuated every time the rails36 pass through a cycle.

till

' It will be'noted ward slightly thus taking up any slack in the-.jected to a blast of will be seen that bellcrank lever104 is oscillatedby chain 106 by the motion of rails 36 to which said chain is secured.Suflicient movement is given to pawl 103 to move chain 102 the distanceof three links. The members 114 and the rows of films will'thus bespaced quite a distance on the chain 102 and there will be no danger ofthe successive rows of films engagin each other. As the films move alongon t e chains 102 they are subare dried thereby. As the films are placedon the chains 102 they are wet and the drippings therefrom are receivedin drain pan his pan is open at its forward end and the liquid fallingthereinto will run into the tank 16. It may also be mentioned that theover-flow from tanks 20 will pass into tank 16 as indicated by thearrows in Fig. 1 and liquid which may pass out of tank 18 also bereceived in tank 16. Water may be delivered counter 122 will be securedto the plate i99 and actuated at each operation of chain 102 so as tocount livered to said chain. It will be noted that bars pull down on thebrackets 77 thus normally swingin bars 32 to the right as shown in Fig.l, tfie same engaging the stop pins 34a.

It is desirable to .have means for varying the films through theapplicants machine by shifting the belt 59 to the various steps on the,cone pulley 60.

that when the belt the smaller steps of the cone, the and its plate 62will move downto one of motor 61.

belt 59 and maintain the same belt. In one embodiment in of ap licantsmachine, enou I in the'cone steps tension on the actual practice thereis variation to give a variationair from the fan 113 and film to tank 18to control the tem fr perature of the solution in the tanks 19. A'

the number of film'hbldersde is shifted combination,

of speed of about 100%, variationcould be accommodated if esired. Thepulley 58 is made rather wide so as to accommodate the movement of thebelt on the cone pulley 60. v It will be noted that the movement ofconveyor chains 102, chains 27, and of the curtains 73 and 89 are allsynchronized with or controlled by the movement of rails 36. All thesemovements are also caused by the one ivi'ng motor 61. Plates 26 justableso that they can be located in proper relation to the carriers 26?). Theguard member 15 is provided to separate the dry undeveloped films fromthe tanks 18 and 19 and prevent any liquid from the tanks reaching saidms or the operator.

From the above a plicant has provided a comparatively simp e and veryefficient machine for developing and washing films and by means of whichthey are progressed through the various film treating liqulds, beingtransferred from one liquid container to another. By so handling thefilms they are very. accurately timed in their movements and scratchingand dama ing of the films by manual movement 18 avoided. The machinedoes the work of several operators who would have to be present totransfer the films from one liquid container to another after a certaintime. The s are also automatically removed from the dark room withoutletting any daylight from the exterior of said room pass thereinto. Itwill be noted that after the machine has been operating a short time tohave its quota of films in each container, that a holder of films isliftedfrom each container at each cycle of movement of the rails 36, oneholder of films also being lifted to be placed in the first container.At each 0 cle of movement of rails 36 one holder of fi is transferred omeach receptacle to another or discharged from the dark room, one set offilms being placed in the first container.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, pro rtions and arrangemnt of the parts, wit outdeparting from the scope of applicants invention, which, generally ingout the objects above set forth, in the novel parts-and combinations ofparts dis! closed and defined in the appended claims.

The term film used in said claims is intended to cover plates and othersensitized members.

-' What is claimed is a V 1. 'A film handling apparatus having in aseries of liquid containers, a conveyor movable therealong adapted to anrt film-carrying members from whicht e fms extend 'into said containers,said containersto be of substantially equal dimensions in the directionof movement of said conveyor, a pair of railsextending along said aremade addescription it is seen that' stated, consists in adevice capableof carryalthougha reater' ported by the conveyor from which films extendinto said containers and are intermittently carried through saidcontainers by said conveyor, and rigidly connected means for elevating aplurality of said film-carrying members from said conveyors whilestationary and transferring the same from certain locations on saidconveyor to other locations thereon respectively.

3. A film'handling apparatus having in combination, a series of adjacentliquid con- 'tainers, endless chains movable along each side thereofadapted to support film-carry g members from which the films extend intosaid containers, each container being adapted to hold films from thesame number of film-carrying members, a film receiving conveyor at therear end of said containers,

a pair of rails extending along all of said containers having spacedmeans thereon for lifting a film-carrying member to remove films fromthe rearmost position in each 0 said containers, also having meansthereon for lifting a film holding member from the v the same, said lastforward end 'of said chains, means for moving said rails through aclosed path to lift said film-carrying members, advance the same a fixeddistance and lower the same whereby the films lifted from each of saidcontainers respectively are lowered into the most forward position ofthe next adjacent container and the films on the film-carrying memberlifted from the forward end of said chains are disposed in the forwardend of' member,

the first container, the film-carrying member lifted from lastcontainerbeing transferred to said film receiving conveyor.

4. A film handling apparatus having in combination, a series of liquidcontainers, a

conveyor movable therealong adaptedto sup port film-carrying membersfrom which the films extend into said containers, a pair of railsextending along said containers having spaced means thereon carryingmembers from said conveyor, mov:

able members moving said rails through an oblong path to lift, progressand lower said and means engaging members, said conveyor actuated bysaid rails.

5. A film handling t i artite having, is,

liquid containers, :1

combination, a series of thereby f combination, a supporting ing the "ita certain for lifting said" filmfor intermittently progressing mentionedmeans being conve or movable therealong adapted to supcombination, amovable supporting means, a

plurality of liquid containers below said supporting means, a dryingsupport at one end of said containers, means for lifting a filmcarryingmeans from one end of said support and moving it to immerse the filmcarried in said first container, means for movingintermittently saidsupporting means to'progress said film-carrying means to move the filmscarried thereby through said first container, said second mentionedmeans acting to successively transfer said film carried by saidfilm-carrying means from one container to another after moving throughsaid container and means co-actiiig with said second mentioned means totransfer said filincarrying means to said drying support.

7. The structure set forth in claim 6, and means for intermittentlymoving said drying support greater distances'than said supporting meansis moved.

8. A film handling apparatus having in device for a filmcarrying member,means for engaging and lifting said film-carr ing member, advancsame afixed distance and then lower ing said film-carrying member to saidsupport and means for advancing said film-carrying member a shortdistance relatively to said means and support as it near said support.

9. Afilm handling apparatus having in combination, afilm-carryingmember, spaced longitudinally extending supports at'eachend of said member for supporting said means'engaging the ends of saidmember and lifting the same from said supports, raisin it a certaindistance, advancing istance and then lowering it to said supportsandmeans for advancing said member relatively to said means and supports asit nearssaid supports.

10.,A film handling apparatus having in combination, avplural tyofliquid containers,

, conveyors movable along the tops and at the a pair of crossbars ofsaid containers sides of said containers, extending along the tops ateach side thereof, cam' plates" having downwardly inclined ed es carriedby said cr ss bars adj aent one si e of each container,

said conveyors beingadapted'to support filmcarrying members extendingthrebetween and resting there'on,'a pair of railsextending along eachside of said containers having I I thereon for respectively. engagingfilm-.

substantially vertical plane,

carrying members supported onsai conveyors, lifting, a film-carryingmembers, said members being lowered into contact with saidclm lateswhereby they, are movedxlongitug iina ly as they descend nea'r saidconveyors. v a

11. A film handling ap aratus having combination, a conveyor isposedilina room and adapted to support and move a' film-carryingmemberrearwardly, means on said member holding a film depending in a a forwardpartition in said room aligned with said conveyor, a rearward .partitionin said room'aligned with said conveyor, means for vertically andrelatively moving said forward partition and film-carrying member forprogressing said film-carrying member under said forward partition whileso vertically moved, means for vertically and relatively moving saidrear partition and. film-car mg member for pro ressing saidfilm-carrying member over sai rear partition while so vertically moved,whereby light is said dark room. 7

12. A film handling apparatus having in combination, a series of liquidcontainers, a conveyor movable the port a film-carrying means, a pair ofrails extending along each side of said containers respectively, havingmeans for lifting said film-carrying from said conveyor, means formoving said rails through an oblong path to li ,progress and lower saidfilm-carryin means, a pair of curtains past which the '-.'c rrying meansare moved, means for intermittently and synchronously moving saidconveyor and means for moving said curtains, said last two means beingactuated by said rails. i 13.-The structure set forth in claim 12, aconveyor'for receiving said film-carrying means and means actuated bysaid rails for intermittently operating said conveyor.

14. A film handling apparatus having in combination, a liquid container,a conveyor movable adjacent the top thereof adapted to support afilm-carrying member, means on said member supporting a film independing position in a substantially vertical 'plane', means forraising, advancing and lowering said film-carrying said conveyor formoving said film-carrying member longitudinallyof said conve or as itmeans is raised, a verticall extending partition beneath which saidlm-carrying member is moved and past which it is moved by saidlongitudinal movement, means adapted to move advancing and lowering sudsup prevented from entering said film-carrying ealong adapted to sup-.ments of said-parts are combination, aframe,

member, means adjacent to which said film-carrying member is-deliveredas it is lowered.

15, Afilm handling apparatus having in combination, a conveyor adaptedto support a film 'carrying member, said member having 7 rting a film independing position in a-su tantially vertical plane, a portitionextending from adjacent said conve or upwardly, agpartition spaced fromsaid partition an extending from adjacent said conveyor upwardly, meansfor raisin said first partition, means for lifting said filmcarryingmember and advancing it beneath said. first partition, and lowering saidfirst partition, means for lowering said second partition after saidfilm-carrying means is raised and advancing said film-carryin means oversaid second partition and for raising said second partition after saidfilmcarrying means has passed the same.

An apparatus for handling photographic films having in combination, aseries of 11 uid containers, a conveyor for supporting lm-carr ingmembers so that the films carried thereby extend into said containers,means for lifting, advanc' g and lowering members, a air of movablepartitions past which sai -carrying members and films are moved, adrying conveyor to which said film-ca ying members are delivered and acommon driving means for progressing said conveyor, to move the films trough said containers, operating said first mentioned means, and saiddrying conveyor, whereby the movesynchronized.

apparatus having in a pair of conveyors movable in said frame at eachside thereof respectively adapted to support a film-carr 17. A filmhandling I ng member extending therebetween, brac ets at one end of saidframe adjacent said conveyors and longitudinally alined withsaid'conveyors respectivelyadapted to support said film-carrying memberwhile the films are attached thereto whereby said film-carrying membercan then be placed on said conveyor and carried thereby.

18.' A photograph developing machine having in combination a series ofliquid containers, a pair of conveyor chains running adjacent the upperedges of said containers, the links of hers extending 'therebetween fromwhich films extend into, said containers respectively,

said partitions.

said chains being constructed and arranged to support film-carrying mem-,combination, a plurality of liquid containers,

a conveyor movable thereover, a film carrymg member suppomdwm sad-conveyor,

having films dep'ehdihg in avertica'l plane therefrom, a pair of railsfor lifting said film carrying member from said conveyor, advancin thesame and lowering the same, a pair 0 longitudinally spaced partitions,-means operated by said rail for raisin one partition above said conveyorso sai film carrying member can move thereunder, and means for loweringthe other partition so that said film carrying member can be moved overthe top thereof when lifted by said rails. 20. The structure set forthin claim '19, said last mentioned means also being operated by saidrails. I

' 21. A film handling apparatus having in combination, a pair ofconveyors movable longitudinally in parallel relation, a film carryingmember extending between said conveyors and supporting films independing vertical position, 'a pair of rails extending parallel to saidconveyors for lifting said film carrying member from said conveyors,advancing the same and lowering. the same onto said conveyors. a pair ofpartitions spaced longitudinally of said conveyors, means for raisingone partition with its bottom above said conveyor so that said filmcarrying member can pass thereunder, and means for lowering the secondpartition subsequently so that said film carrying member and films canpass thereover when lifted and advanced by said rail.

22; A film handling apparatus having in combination. a plurality ofadiacent containers for liquid, means to support and automatically movea plurality of grouns, of films through said containers, there being onegroup in each container respectively, and means movable as a unit-tosimultaneously lift the film from one position in a group in eachcontainer, progress and lower the i said film respectively to adifferent position relative to the group in the next adjacent container.v

23. A film handling apparatus having in combination". a plurality ofadjacent containers for liquid, means for supporting and automaticallyadvancing groups of films in saidcontainers intermittently, there beingone group in each container. means movable asa unit for simultaneouslylifting the rearmost film of each group in each container whilestationary, advancing said film and lowering the same respectively tothe foremost position of the group in the next adjacent container.

- 24. A film handling apparatus havlng in combination, a dark room, afilm conveyor therein adapted to support film carrying

